Picker device for stringed iviusfcal instruments



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I W. GUSTAFSON. PIGKER 11mm FOR STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS. No. 606,207. Patented June 28,1898. E19 I 1,4: l

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PICKEE DEVICE FOR STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

No. 606,207. Patented June 28,1898.

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W. GUSTAFSON.

PIGKER DEVICE FOR STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS. No. 606,207. Patented Jung 28 1898.

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,VALFRID GUSTAFSON, OF NEWV YORK, N. Y.,ASSIGNOR TO THE AMERICAN AUTOMATIC BANJO COMPANY, OF NEV JERSEY.

PECKER vvEViCE FDR STRENGED MUSECAL ENSTRUMENTS.

SPECIFECATIGN forming part of Letters Patent No. 606,207, dated June 28, 1898.

Application filed March 31, 1898. Serial No, 675,951. (No model.)

self-playing musical instruments, the object thereof being to provide improved means for controlling the lateral movements of the pickers, so as to compel them to follow their respective guide-cams, the latterbein g adapted,

as is already wellknown, to so guide the movement of the finger as to cause it to engage with and release its strin in a predetermined and most effective way and to return to its first position ready for the succeeding stroke or pick by a path which carries it clear of the vibrating string. This object is'secured by applying a frictional controller at one side of 2 5 the plane of movement o'f'the pivot by which the picker is attached to the devices which move it longitudinally, the rubbing contact of the controller with the picker serving during the backward or string-engaging stroke of the picker to hold the picker laterally toward the string against the side of its guiding-cam and serving upon the forward or return stroke of the picker to move the picker laterally away from its string, the amplitude of lateral movement of the picker in each direction being determined by the guiding-cam. Figure 1 of the drawings is a plan view, and Fig. 2 is a front View, partlyin section, taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1, showing my improved picker-controlling devices in connection with the string-picking mechanism of a mechanically-played banjo. Figs. 3 and 4. are enlarged plan views of the picker mechanism of Figs. 1 and 2, showing two different phases of the movement thereof. Fig. 5 is a similar plan view showing a modified construction and arrangement of my improved picker-controller. Fig. 6 is a front View of the righthand portion of what is shown in Fig. 5, and Fig. 7 is an end view projected from Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is a plan view, and Fig. 9 a front view,

showing a modified form of my improved picker controller. Fig. 10 is a plan view showing still another modified form of my controller.

This invention, although applicable to all mechanically-operated pickers for stringed musical instruments, is illustrated herein as being used in connection with devices for picking the strings of a banjo of ordinary construction. The banjo B is supported by means of the bracket 12 and posts 13, extending from the base 14:. The pickers 17 are pivotally attached to their motor devices, which ordinarily and preferably consist of pneumatic bellows 18, attached to the bracket 16, upon the outer ends of which is fastened the harp 15, extending overjthe head of the banjo and carrying the guiding-cams 21, having the apertures 22. Each pickeris provided with a pin or projection 23, extending into the aperture 22, the walls of the latter being of a contour suitable for guiding the point of the picker in its desired path, which is represented in the several figures of the drawings by dotted lines adjacent to the points of the pickers. The movable side 19 of the motor-bellows is normally held in its open position (shown in Fig. 1) by means of a spring 3,

and the interior of each bellows communi- 8o cates by means of the tubes 20 with suitable devices for exhausting the air therefrom at the desired intervals for operating their respective pickers.

The foregoing brief description applies to the features of this class of instruments which are already well-known in the art. I will now describe the improved means of my present invention by which the pickers are caused to follow the contour of their respec- 9o tive guiding-cams as they are reciprocated longitudinally by means of their respective motor-bellows.

In order to adapt the pickers to engage properly with the controllers of the present invention, they are each provided with an arm 30, which may be removably attached to the picker, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, or be integral therewith, as in Fig. 5. This arm extends from the picker substantially at right angles to the general direction of its longitudinal movement and radially from the point controller, or both, are preferably faced at f with leather or other material suitable for causing the desired friction and for insuring the silent operation of the parts. The controller is either resilient in itself, as indicated in Figs. 3 to 7, inclusive, or is provided with means, as a spring, for pressing its pieker-arm-engaging surface resiliently into contact therewith, as in Figs. 8 to 10, inclusive. In the form shown in Figs 3 and itthe eontroller consists of a resilient plate which is attached by means of the screws 33 to the harp 15, the tension, and consequently the Force of its frictional engagement with the pickerarm, being varied by means of the adjusting-screw 3i.

In the modification. shown in Fig. 5 the picker-arm 30 is shown to be integral with the picker 17, extending from its pivotal connection with the motor-bellows at right angles to the picker, through a slot in the harp, to the plane of its ei'igagement with the controller 32 which presses against the side of the arm instead of against the end thereof, as in theprevions figu res. On account of this sidewise pressure the jointed connection of the picker with the motor-bellows should be extended, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7, the picker being provided with a hub 31 of suitable length to counteract the sidewise pressure of the controller.

In the modification shown in Figs. 8 and 9 the controller 132" 's composed of two members which are pivotally mounted upon the harp and engage upon opposite sides of the pieker-arm 30, the amount of pressure and the consequent friction being determined by. the tension of the spring 38.

In the modification. shown in Fig. the controller 32 is a single member pivotally mounted upon the harp l5 and pressed into engagement with the end of the picl-;orarm the amount of pressure and consequent friction being determined by the tension of the spring 3.

I claim as my invention-- 1. In a stringed musical instrun'ient, a pivotally-1nounted recimocating picker and a controller For :lrietionally engaging with, the picker at one side 01; the plane of movement of the pivot thereof, for oscillating the picker in one direction during its forward movement and in the opposite direction during its baclnvard movement.

2. In a stringed musical instrument, a pivotallynnonntcd reciprocating piij'lcer, a guiding-eam therefor, and a cont-roller t'rictional l engaging with the picker at one side oi the plane of movement of its pivot, wherelrv the picker is caused to follow the contour ol the guiding-cam during its rcciproeations- In a stringed musi *lal instrument, a pivotally-mounted reciprocating picker, a guiding-cam therefor, a controller, and illilzll'lS l'or resiliently pressing the controller into l'rictional engagement with the picker, at one side of the plane of movement of its pivot to hold the picker laterally into contact with its guiding-cam during its reci 'n'ocations.

t. In a stringed musical instri'nnent, a pivotallynnounted reciprocating picker, a gnid ing-cam therefor, and a controller resiliently pressed into frictional engagement with the picker, at one side of the plane of movement of its pivot, for holding the piclcer laterally in contact with its gnidingcam during its reciprocations, with means for varying the intensity of the resilient :lfrictional engm g'ement of the controller with the picker.

Signed by me, at Nendfork city, this 25 th day of lliarch, 1898. 

